Today is Election Day and while it is extremely unlikely one vote will actually make a difference in the grand scheme of things, if everyone thinks like that, no one will vote at all, right? So go out and vote.

While my conservative tendencies are known, all anyone wants to talk about is the Democrats choice for President, a two-man race between Senators John Kerry and John Edwards. Actually, three if you believe all the posters of Dennis Kucinich all around Berkeley. If I were a Democrat, I would choose Edwards, who would have the ability to win in the South and has run a positive campaign filled with reaching out to the people and embracing the issues that matter to them most. Kerry certainly walks the walk and talks the talk, but he doesn't really look presidential, does he? Okay, neither does Bush but he's proven his worth after 4 years with the top job. And while Kerry has 25 years as a senator, there's nothing that shines on his record. Edwards is short on experience but is high on potential.

The state faces 4 propositions all dealing with the budget. 55 and 57 authorizes $27 billion in bonds for the schools and the state respectively. It will certainly strap the financial futures of the state for a long time, but the money is badly needed. 56 lowers the budget requirement from a 2/3 majority to a 55% majority. 58 would require a balanced budget in the state and prevent the state from issuing deficit bonds, something Governor Schwarzenegger proposes to do this year anyway. I would reluctantly vote yes for all 4. Schools are in bad shape and need to rebuild and the state can't afford any more cuts, even at its high future cost. Nobody wants to see a majority have an easier job in passing the budget but a bad budget is better than no budget at all. Besides, if and when Republicans are in the majority in the Legislature, I'm sure they would then welcome the 55% majority rule. 58 goes hand in hand with 57. If one fails, they both do.

Berkeley and Alameda County have Measure A on the ballot, which would raise the sales tax in the county to 8.75% for health care purposes. Yes, it's needed, but to have the highest sales tax isn't really welcome.

There's a 4-way race for the Republican Senate nomination between Bill Jones, the former Secretary of State, Rosario Marin, the former U.S. Treasurer, Howard Kaloogian, and Toni Casey. Jones is obviously the most qualified and should be the nominee but he would face an uphill climb to unseat the liberal Barbara Boxer.

So go out and vote. You'll get a cool sticker too.

In reality, it's Tuesday morning, but I'm thinking it's Monday night still so birthday wishes to up and coming filmmaker Steves down there at USC.